Hapoel Holon officially introduced Guy Goodes as their new head coach just ahead of the club’s flight to Turkey where they will face Besiktas in game two of their Basketball Champions League Play In best of 3 series on Wednesday at 19:00.

The purples have their back against the wall after falling in the first game 73-72 at home in a game where Isaiah Whitehead willed his team to victory. However, this time around Whitehead will not be available after fracturing his ankle in a domestic league game the past Sunday and will miss a month of time away from the court.

“I’m happy to be here and I’m happy to join the club,” Goodes began. “This will be an experience and a challenge. Many people asked why I didn’t take a break, but I love challenges and I want to be a part of this club, its tradition and history. There are some great people here and they have welcomed me with open arms.”

The new bench boss is looking forward to the immediate challenge at hand when he faces a do or die matchup in his first game as head coach, “This is a very crucial week coming up and that begins with Besiktas on Wednesday in Turkey where we need to stay alive. We want to win and we are working on getting ready both physically and mentally in order to do just that. Then we have a State Cup quarterfinal game on Sunday. Our goal is to get as far as possible and that is my standard as well as the club’s. I want to end the week on a positive note.”

“We will see who is in their squad on Tuesday,” Goodes mentioned in reference to Whitehead’s injury. “This game really depends on us and if we do what we have been working on in practice. We are all aware of the situation and we all have to give the utmost.”